With the conclusion of the second round of the Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) season, all six teams have now played at least one match. The Boston Banshees are the first to 2-0 after a 36-10 win against the TC Gemini (1-1). The New York Exiles (1-1) picked up their first win, defeating the Chicago Tempest (0-2) 48-17 on the road. And Denver Onyx celebrated its home opener with a 63-5 win against the Bay Breakers (0-1). [lead photo: Mike Conners @mikeconnersphoto23]
Related: Watch WER live & on-demand on DANZ
Week two began in Glendale, Colo., where both the hometown Onyx and visiting Bay Breakers were playing their first-ever professional game. The showdown had notes of the 2024 Legacy Cup, but ultimately the teams are very different from their WPL former selves. Infinity Park was different, too, as the stands filled with fans eager to be part of the WER movement. Stay tuned for words from Denver head coach Sarah Chobot, who talked about the players’ efforts on the ground to build the local hype.
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And the work was worth it, as the crowd cheered on the Onyx as the team scored 49 unanswered points in the middle 40 minutes of the match. The scoring began in minute 19, when flyhalf McKenzie Hawkins grubbered through the line and wing Erica Coulibaly chased it down, scooped it up and scooted around her defender. Hawkins added the first of eight-straight conversions. Coulibaly was back in the try zone fewer than 10 minutes later, after Onyx stole possession in the tackle and quickly moved the ball away. Kelsie O’Brien took the ball up the middle and then perfectly timed the offload to Coulibaly at midfield. The wing sped away for another five points.
The forwards did a lot of excellent work and also contributed points from in close. Rachel Johnson, Hallie Taufo’ou and Maya Learned all scored dive-overs, and Tahlia Brody, Ina Bailey and Hannah Long scored with a little more running room and being in good support positions. Denver held a 49-0 lead until the 67th minute, until Bay scrumhalf Shelby Lin went quick from a penalty and extended past the tackler for the dot-down. Alev Kelter slotted the conversion, 49-7.
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The Onyx had gas for two more tries to end the game. Kristin Bitter answered with an intercept try, and then KB Broughton tapped quickly through a penalty and hit Long for the game’s final try. Bitter took over at the tee and kept the team’s perfect record on conversions: 63-7. More to come.
On Saturday evening, the Boston Banshees hosted the TC Gemini, and the home side did not waste any time in building a 29-0 halftime lead. The Veterans’ Memorial Stadium crowd was a big boost, but also the Banshees took and implemented some important lessons from Week one. Read more from head coach Kitt Ruiz. Boston held a 36-0 lead into the final 10 minutes of the match. No. 8 Yeja Dunn scored three tries, while flanker Shelby Vance, lock Jenny Kronish and wing Cheta Emba (who also kicked three conversions) added tries as well.
TC Gemini was rewarded for its hard work and put wing Ciara Clawson and prop Alivia Leatherman away for tries to end the game: 36-10.
Sunday belonged to the New York Exiles and Chicago Tempest. Both teams were coming off of close, Week 1 losses at home, and so both were especially eager to put Week 2 in the win column. New York scored 36 first-half points. Forwards Jess Salud and Gio Cruz, and backs Sophie Frick, Scout Cheeks (2) and Matilda Kocaj all dotted down. Jetta Owens kicked three of her four conversions on the day. After the break, the hard-charging Kayla Hunkin-Clark and Kocaj also scored, and Owens kicked a conversion for 48 points. There was a lot of work in between those scores, but the impact of hooker Caoimhe O’Sullivan-Roche around the pitch was certainly memorable.
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As one might expect, the home team kept pushing and owned the fourth quarter. Tempest had scored a first-half try through the electric Isla Alejandro, and the fullback was back in the try zone in minute 77. Alejandro had gathered a kick-through from flyhalf Brook Walkate, who had also scored a try in the 63 minute. The game ended with Nicole Fisch’s conversion from the sideline: 48-17 to New York.
Week 3 Schedule
All games live-stream for free on DAZN and are also available on-demand
Saturday, April 5
1 p.m. MDT New York (1-1) @ Denver (1-0)
5:30 p.m. PDT TC Gemini (1-1) @ Bay (0-1)
Sunday, April 6
12 p.m. CDT Boston (2-0) @ Chicago (0-2)
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